Gerrard’s Gers have the hallmarks of Smith side
Kirk Broadfoot got to a UEFA Cup Final with a Rangers team built on resilience and defensive solidity.
On that run to Manchester in 2008, Euro heavyweights such as Werder Bremen, Spor t ing Lisbon and Fiorentina found Walter Smith’s side too tough a nut to crack.
It’s early days in Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox reign but the Ki lmarnock defender has already seen signs that Rangers are showing a similar kind of stubbornness now.
In their sound start to domestic action and in the Europa League, unity and organisation – particularly at the back – have been key.
Broadfoot, who hopes Steve Clarke’s side can breach Gers’ back-line at Rugby Park in the Betfred Cup today, is aware of the improvement under Gerrard.
And he says if the Ibrox men continue in such a vein, they’ll be far tougher to play against than the Gers side that dropped eight points to Killie last term.
Ahead of the last 16 tie in Ayrshire, Broadfoot said: “I have mates who are season-ticket holders at Ibrox that say they’re seeing a Walter Smith team now.
“I don’t know much about their new signings but I played against Connor Goldson when he was at Brighton and he’s fantastic.
“Obviously I know Allan McGregor as well from my time at Rangers so they’re both good signings.
“You can see the comparisons to a Walter team. They look hard to beat, they stay in games and are capable of nicking 1- 0 wins. I watched them away to Aberdeen and they were superb after going down to 10 men.
“They deserved to win and would definitely have won it with 11.
“Without being disrespectful to anyone at Rangers last season, they’re now going to be harder to play against.
“You can see they’re organised now. Last year they were on top in games but they’d lose a goal and then another – just like they did here at Rugby Park.
“They were 1- 0 up against us, should have seen the game out but lost 2-1. To be fair to us, after our new manager came in, we could beat anyone.
“We had good records against both Rangers and Celtic.
“But previously, going to Ibrox there would always be a fear factor. It was certainly the case when I played for St Mirren going there.
“That’s probably back now. I spoke to a couple of the St Mirren boys who were there last week and they said they’d never seen Ibrox like that.
“With the fans’ card display and the crowd right behind them, it was like they knew they’d be turned over.”
Broadfoot rates Killie gaffer Clarke just as highly as he did when he worked under Smith at Ibrox.
And he expects Gerrard to face his toughest test yet when Rangers head for Ayrshire this afternoon – especially on their plastic pitch.
He said: “The surface could throw Rangers off their stride. Stevie G won’t have seen anything like this.
“But it’s part of Scottish football with ourselves, Livi and Hamilton. Hopefully we can use it to our advantage against Rangers and get a result.
“You’ll have to ask our manager if he has any other tricks up his sleeve – I don’t want to give anything away.
“But I’d put our gaffer right up there with the best I’ve worked with and I include Walter in that. He’s top notch.
“The way he prepares for every game, the way we train is second to none.
“We took 10 points off the Old Firm last season so they’ll have a wee chip on their shoulder about that.
“But it’s about the future now and Rangers are a di f ferent animal compared to what we faced last season.”
Clarke revived Killie beyond all recognition when he arrived at Rugby Park last season and they secured a deserved top-six finish.
But despite fans’ excitement about what they can achieve, Broadfoot insists they can still play with no pressure.
He said: “I don’t feel any extra pressure this season. In fact, last year with a whole new squad there was maybe more.
“The chairman’s comments about us challenging at the top of the league is maybe a bit unrealistic. But if we get points on the board, who knows where it can take us?
“Winning on Sunday and having a cup run would help. Getting to the quarterfinals and taking out one of the big boys would give everyone a bit of hope.”